Tesla has recently filed a 10-year compensation plan that could potentially make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. However, hidden in the 16-page proxy statement dated 5 September 2025 was an unexpected detail about Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI. Tesla described the company as “eXploratory Artificial Intelligence or xAI”, creating confusion since this interpretation has never been officially confirmed by Musk or his company.
What does xAI actually stand for?
xAI, formally registered as X.AI Corp., was founded by Elon Musk in 2023 in Nevada. The company’s mission, as Musk stated during its launch livestream, is to “build a good AGI to understand the universe.” Yet, nowhere on xAI’s official website, incorporation filings, or public documents does the term “exploratory artificial intelligence” appear.
Business Insider reports that while academics sometimes use XAI to refer to “explainable AI” or “exploratory AI,” there is no evidence that Musk’s xAI was officially named after either.
Public speculation and social media mentions
Several niche blogs and online discussions have speculated that xAI stands for “exploratory artificial intelligence.” However, most of these claims lack credible sources. Interestingly, Musk’s chatbot Grok has referenced the phrase “exploratory AI” multiple times on X (formerly Twitter), but not in a way that suggests it is the official company name.
This has left the meaning of xAI open to interpretation, with no formal statement from Musk or Tesla to clarify the matter.
The power of the letter ‘X’ in Musk’s branding
One consistent thing is Musk’s obsession with the letter “X.” From SpaceX, Model X, and X.com (now Twitter) to his company xAI, the pattern is undeniable. Even his child’s name, “X Æ A-12” (now simplified to X), reflects this recurring theme. Musk’s ventures often carry the “X” branding, symbolising exploration, innovation, and futuristic ambition.
Why does the mystery matter?
The ambiguity around xAI’s name underscores Musk’s unconventional approach to branding. While Tesla’s filing might have accidentally revealed “exploratory artificial intelligence” as the meaning, the lack of confirmation keeps the branding shrouded in mystery. For investors and AI enthusiasts, this raises questions about how Musk positions xAI in the global AI race against OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.
